The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-09-10
"rathcr nlwavs said so,p answered Miss

"Fathcr always said so," answered Miss
Betty"
"Yes, remember. he said so twenty
years ago. Nothing would make him change
his opinion. Why did he build this house
so that in case it did give way you'd be sure
to be drowned outl Ibelieve good freshet
would carry every stick and stone OF II
away"
"But we never have froshets in this little
river" F.mI EN.s
"We might have one, though, this season.
They say the accumulations OF ice up to the
northward arc fearful. These soft skies
have come too suddenly. They arc what
farmers call "a weather breeder Let the
ice get pretty we'll melted and give us Il
good rain storm to send IL down, there'd be
trouble, sure"
Miss Betty did not believe in the frcshot.
Her mind was occupied with other matters.
John and May were certainly coming to an
understanding. The other day she, Betty,
had been alone in the room with him, and
he had been talking about May. Suddenly
Miss Betty had fancicd he was going to say
| something about marrying her 1t was toe
much. Miss Betty made some triflng ex-
cuse and fed. Then she sent May into the
| room. or late she had taken to leaving
them alone together. II it was to be, 1t
must be, but John should not consult her
first If he had no memory, she had. Let
him speak to May.
'Thcre certainly is something queer about
the river" urged John the next evening as
he took his departure. 'tIts six inches
higher than usual, and look at the mud.
don't believe in that dam either"
''The dam will last till morning, won't
| IL nqlxed Nav mi iarhiavouaIv
~ don't know whether it will or not. 1t
might not il we had a heavy storm. 1t
looks like one, too. Does anybody remain
awake in this house all nightl"
mot usually"
''Let some one do it tonight then, and to-
morrow we'll have things seen to-"
| But even this warning went unheeded.
May was not timid. Miss Betty, though
naturally SO, believed in the dam. When
bedtime came she read her usual chapter in
the Bible, said her prayers, tied the strings
of her night cap into an irreproachable
bow and went to bed to sleep the sleep Of
the just.
At what t.mo could it have been that she
was awalseded so rudely! Was it raining2
Yes surely. There was the distinct sound
of rain drops on the roof. But the rushing
sound that came from so far off-what was
/
looked out. There was something strange
in the landscape-what was ita
What Miss Betty saw might well seem
strange. Instead of her familiar garden,
the picket fence and the grassy lawn be-
yond, there in their place was a watery
waste. All manner of small things were
floating about-fowcr pots, sticks, Miss
| Betty's garden hat, inadvertently loft on
the porch. All small things that could
float were having regatta
| Hark! what was thatl A repetition of
the sound that awolie her some minutes
ago-a bursting, crashing sound-a rushing
sound, sound OF huge timbers tearing
| themselves from their fastenings, q swell
ing, dashing roaring sound!
"Help"' shrieked Miss Betty, ''help"
| In moment she had seen what the matter
was The dam had given way, the waters
were rising. Presently they would ever
whelm the house.
Miss Betty did not wait to SEQ If her ap-
peal was heard. Who was there could
hear it, There was no one near but May
and Maria Opening her door with tremb-
ling fingers she sped into the passage.
There she met two flying figures, white
| robed like herself.
ITO tho roof! to the roof" she screamed,
and seizing the nearest garments they
| could find, TO the roof the three terrified
women fled.
Fortunately for all, the old house was
not very firmly set upon its foundations,
or else old age and decay had lo6sened il
At any rate it foated, and as the waters
rose it rose with them.
| But twhat apredlcamcnt' Three half-clait
shivering women perched on top of float
ing house, in the middle of q wild April
nighttime wind roaring. the rain falling,
all wild fury of the elements let loose.
"Wc shall die, Aunt Betty, we shall die y
moaned May.
Courage, Mayr' came from Miss Betty's
white lips. But in reality she was suffer.
ing more than either OF the other two.
May was young and healthy, and exposure
did not affect the good Maria's coarser
frame. Miss Betty was not young; she
was not we'll. Suspense and unhappiness
had made her even fcebler and frazier OF
late than usual.
Oh how wearily the hours passed. The
old house shook and trembled as it was
tossed here and there by the turbulent
waters. Great logs from tho dam struck
it and it quivered at each blow.
1t must have been fully an hour before
the wretched women, clinging to eacf
other in their misery, heard the sound oil
voices and the grinding of boat as it cam,
alongside the spot where they were hud
died. .9Fl; tkt ntt ty
'Betty, Betty!" voice called above tn,
storm. 81. L.ti.ta- YfeAfs. tle
In spite Of cold and darkness vivid blusi
overspread Miss Betty's pale cheeks. VIII,
had he called her Bettyl .I
"Where are you. Where's MayP'
"Ohr
Pallor succeeded the rose as Miss Bett,
answered: 1000
"Here, John, here.n Catching his arm a
he sprang to the roof, she pushed May to
ward him.
''Here she is, John! Take her; save her
Never mind us!'
"Whatv' He was so near that Miss Bett
fancied she saw the angry CLEAN in his eyes
John might be slow, and he might b
stupid; but he could act quickly when h
wanted to.
With decided movement Of his righ
arm he pushed May aside, and Betty Eel
, herself in his clasp. A heavy overcoat wa
/ wrapped round her shaking form, and sh
was quickly passed to other hands, VIII
placed her in the bottom OF the boat. I
her amazement John Mcintosh followed.
, "But May, John! May and Marial" sh
shrieked, rising to her feet.
a A strong hand held her back. --'--~
''They're all right. This boat is small
The others will take them Off Tue got you!
That last sentenced What did it meant
n Why, it meant that things had really &c
o the habit Of happening to Miss Betty.
Thov hanpauad and tho ov hon Mi.